IPOB agitations bordered on discrimination and marginalisation - Catholic bishop of Umuahia condemns killing of IPOB members and attack on Nnamdi Kanu's residence. Blames Igbo leaders for their silence

IPOB agitations bordered on discrimination and marginalisation - Catholic bishop of Umuahia condemns killing of IPOB members and attack on Nnamdi Kanu's residence. Blames Igbo leaders for their silence

• Years of injustice, inequality, corruption and impunity led the country through a phase that is marked by tension, agitations
• Igbo youths agitating for restructuring of the country and marginalisation of the zone
• Marauding Fulani herdsmen is another Python Dance
• Calls for Igbo leaders who love Igbo land, who are courageous and articulated, not afraid to stand with their people, who are ready to speak for their people when occasion rises

Catholic bishop of Umuahia, Abia State, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, has condemned the Federal Government for treating Igbo as enemies of the nation they helped to build. Ugorji Rev. Ugorji, who spoke during the Igbo Civil Society Coalition symposium in Enugu, said that Igbo are regarded as rebels to be crushed while the grievances that sparked the antagonism and war are yet to be addressed. 

He disclosed that Igbo have been stigmatized and have become easy target of national hatred, opprobrium and victims of countless riots and massacre for no just cause. “Since after the civil war, the people occupying the geo-political space known as South East have been treated as enemies of the country they built. 

“Decades after the civil war, the war in other forms is still raging without tackling the grievances that caused the war”, he said. 

Condemning the killing of harmless Igbo youths agitating for restructuring of the country and marginalisation of the zone, the representative of the Bishop, Rev. Fr. Francis Nwaiwu said that agitation is one aspect of passing information to government especially in a democratic system of government. 

Ugorji pointed out that years of injustice, inequality, corruption and impunity led the country through a phase that is marked by tension, agitations and general sense of hopelessness and dissatisfaction. 

“There were agitations which indeed heightened tension in the country. These agitations bordered on discrimination and marginalisation based on the purported imbalance in the country. There were calls for restructuring and even secession. Our country is a democratic government where agitations are part of the process”, he disclosed. 

Lamenting how Igbo are constantly hounded, humiliated, abused and taken for granted in the contraption called Nigeria, he blamed Igbo leaders for not coming together to fight for a common cause. 

“We have at this time, no leader, prophet, prince, sacrifice, oblation, incense, no place where we can state our problems and win favour at federal level,” Ugorji noted. 

He also lamented the brutality unleashed to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and invasion of Nnamdi Kanu’s house at Afaraukwu community in Umuahia Abia State by the army. Operation Python Dance II on September 14th 2017 pointed out that another form of Python Dance known as Fulani herdsmen that kills, destroy farmland and rape women is still existing and urged Igbo leaders to rise up and address the situation. 

“Another Python Dance that has become a burden to Igbo land is the vicious marauding Fulani herdsmen. These people are all over the place terrorising people, killing, maiming, raping our women and destroying farmland. 

In other zones, the representative of the people, Governors an state legislature are rising up to the challenge by speaking out and even enacting laws to protect their citizens from these marauders. What is the situation in Igbo land? Deafening silence”, He cried. He called for Igbo leaders who love Igbo land, who are courageous and articulated, not afraid to stand with their people, who are ready to speak for their people when occasion rises and leader they can trust and follow not self serving leaders, not fair weather leaders who prefer to stand on the winning side, to rise to the defence of Ndigbo.